CITY ISSUES FILM NOTICE

NEW ORLEANS, LA—Today, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy issued a filming notice to New Orleans residents and businesses in …]]>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05/28/2013

CITY ISSUES FILM NOTICE

NEW ORLEANS, LA—Today, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy issued a filming notice to New Orleans residents and businesses in the downtown area.

On Thursday, May 30^th and Friday, May 31^st, a production company will be filming scenes from 7pm to 6 am that will include intermittent simulated gunfire. Uniformed officers will be on site to ensure safety. Filming will be limited to a closed set of Fox’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, within the 100 and 200 blocks of South Rampart Street, the 1000 block of Common Street, and the 1100 block of Tulane Avenue. These blocks are closed to traffic through June 24 as part of a traffic plan that can be found at www.nola.gov/film, the home page for Film New Orleans in the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy.

Film New Orleans, the City’s Traffic Engineering Division, the New Orleans Police Department, New Orleans Fire Department and other City agencies have worked closely with the production company to minimize the impact to area business, residents and commuters. The production company has done extensive outreach to businesses and property owners in the surrounding area.

The production will employ about 600 local residents and involve approximately 200 visiting cast and crew. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will have an estimated local economic impact of $80 million, which takes into account what the production will spend on such costs as labor, lodging and good and services.

Film New Orleans assists productions with the City’s permitting process, connects productions with local crew and resources, and facilitates communication between productions and the local community.

In 2012, New Orleans hosted 61 tax credit film projects (TV, films and commercials with budgets over $300,000), with direct spending of $669.8 million. In 2011, the City hosted 46 tax credit projects with an estimated $544 million in direct spending.

Additional information will be released and posted as the project moves forward.

Members of the media with questions about the production should contact publicist Gregg Brilliant at gbrilliant@gmail.com

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NEW ORLEANS–Today, the City of New Orleans announced the upcoming closure of several blocks in the Central Business …]]> Production will have an estimated $80 million local economic impact

NEW ORLEANS–Today, the City of New Orleans announced the upcoming closure of several blocks in the Central Business District and Lower Garden District for filming of the major motion picture Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Beginning Saturday, May 11, the 100 and 200 blocks of South Rampart Street, the 1000 block of Common Street,  and the 1100 block of Tulane Avenue will be closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The street closures will remain in effect through June 24, 2013 to accommodate filming.

In addition to the downtown street closures, parking restrictions and street closures will be in place on 500 Orange Street, 500 Market Street, 500 Richard Street and the 1500 to 1600 blocks of South Peters Street through May 24 to accommodate filming in the area.

All street closures and detours will be marked by signage and uniformed police officers will be on duty daily to assist with efficient traffic flow.

A traffic plan with maps and alternate routes for downtown traffic can be found at www.nola.gov/film, the home page for Film New Orleans in the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy.

Film New Orleans, the City’s Traffic Engineering Division, the New Orleans Police Department, New Orleans Fire Department and other City agencies have worked closely with the production company to minimize the impact to area business, residents and commuters. The production company has done extensive outreach to businesses and property owners in the surrounding area.

Twentieth Century Fox announced today that principal photography is underway on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Andy Serkis, celebrated for his performance in the last film, reprises his role as Caesar. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes also stars Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty, Public Enemies, The Great Gatsby), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises, The Harry Potter film series), Keri Russell (The Americans, Mission Impossible III), Toby Kebbell (The Prince of Persia, Wrath of the Titans, Rock N Rolla), Kodi Smit-McPhee (Let Me In, ParaNorman), Enrique Murciano (Traffic, Black Hawk Down), Kirk Acevedo (The Thin Red Line) and Judy Greer (The Descendants, Three Kings, 13 Going on 30).

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Let Me In). The producers are Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark (Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Oblivion), Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (Rise of the Planet of the Apes).  Tom Hammel (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) is executive producing. 

The production will employ about 600 local residents and involve approximately 200 visiting cast and crew. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes will have an estimated local economic impact of $80 million, which takes into account what the production will spend on costs such as labor, lodging, good and services.

“We’re proud to welcome Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to New Orleans,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “The fact that this production is in New Orleans is a testament to the incredible growth of the local film industry into a major economic engine, creating jobs and supporting existing local businesses and new ventures.”

Film New Orleans assists productions with the City’s permitting process, connects productions with local crew and resources, and facilitates communication between productions and the local community. In 2012, New Orleans hosted 61 tax credit film projects (TV, films and commercials with budgets over $300,000), with direct spending of $669.8 million. In 2011, the City hosted 46 tax credit projects with an estimated $544 million in direct spending.

Additional information will be released and posted at www.nola.gov/film as it becomes available.

The DOCUMENTARY SUMMIT comes to New Orleans for the first time June 8-9, 2013.

Produced by the creators of the “The Documentary Filmmakers Handbook” & ”The …]]>  

The DOCUMENTARY SUMMIT comes to New Orleans for the first time June 8-9, 2013.

Produced by the creators of the “The Documentary Filmmakers Handbook” & ”The Guerilla Filmmakers Handbook,” it’s two days of networking and access to many top pros in the documentary filmmaking industry including grant reviewers, production and post experts and legal advise on copyrighted material.

Early Bird Discount is available now until May 17th, 2013. $100 for two days (regular price $159) -  so sign up now as seating is limited. Day passes available (no discounts on day passes). More Info & Tickets visit:http://www.DocumentarySummit.com/docsummit-2013-la

A few Guest Speakers lined up to date include (more to be added):

Lily Keber/BAYOU MAHARAJAH: THE TRAGIC GENIUS OF JAMES BOOKER
Luis Dantas/LAND OF OPPORTUNITY
Darcy McKinnon/NOVAC
James Napper, III/Clearance & Copyright attorney
Josh Penn/TCHOUPITOULAS

Promotional partners include: NOVAC, The New Orleans Film Society, Film Buffs at Loyola University and The Documentary Film Makers Handbook.

For the website and more information, click here.

WHEN: Monday, April 29 – Wednesday, May 1

WHERE: New Orleans Museum of Art

FREE & OPEN …]]>

Sync Up Cinema Connects Filmmakers to the Industry

WHEN: Monday, April 29 – Wednesday, May 1

WHERE: New Orleans Museum of Art

FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

NOVAC, Jazz & Heritage Foundation and The New Orleans Film Society (NOFS) have partnered to produce Sync Up Cinema, a free film industry conference focused on Louisiana film production and the emerging opportunities in the film industry.  For three days, in between the weekends of Jazz Fest, Sync Up Cinema will bring to the region: screenings of local and international documentaries and NOVAC Conversations and Panels with internationally renowned filmmakers and industry pros.

Click here for more information.

Registration: April …]]> Do you dream of being a star?  Do you have a hidden voice just waiting to share it with the world?  Have you been keeping it a secret? 

WHEN: Saturday, March 23 from 10 AM – 4PM

WHERE: 9th Ward Studios, 1301 Kentucky Street

TUITION COST: $150 – Current NOVAC Members, $205 – New …]]>

WHEN: Saturday, March 23 from 10 AM – 4PM

WHERE: 9th Ward Studios, 1301 Kentucky Street

TUITION COST: $150 – Current NOVAC Members, $205 – New NOVAC Members

NOVAC’s second installment of the Cinematography Series: Lighting 101 is a hands on workshop designed to educate the budding cinematographer on lighting as a way to support the story and scene, how to achieve one’s desired look with lighting and how the lighting relates to the camera. The class will cover basic lighting techniques and terminology, aspects of light, motivated light, lighting for video and more. 

CURRENT MEMBERS REGISTER HERE FOR $150

NEW MEMBERS REGISTER HERE FOR $205
(NOVAC Basic Membership is included in the cost of the class)

Please be sure to review our rescheduling and cancellation policy prior to purchasing any NOVAC course.

 For more information click here.

SHREVEPORT, La., Feb. 27, 2013 – “The Pardon,” a movie based on a sensational murder case that attracted …]]> ‘The Pardon,’ Set in 1940s, to Debut in Theaters in March

SHREVEPORT, La., Feb. 27, 2013 – “The Pardon,” a movie based on a sensational murder case that attracted national headlines, tells a timeless story of love, forgiveness and redemption that is just as relevant today as it was when a Louisiana jury convicted Toni Jo Henry and sentenced her to death in the early 1940s.

The film, shot in the Shreveport area with most of the action set there and in Lake Charles, will hold a special premiere in New Orleans on March 13 before debuting in theaters in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette and Lake Charles on March 22.

“Because Toni Jo was beautiful, she instantly became a notorious celebrity, drawing almost unparalleled media attention,” said Tom Anton, who directed the film and co-wrote the script with his wife, Sandi Russell. “Only the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into World War II grabbed more headlines.”

Newspaper articles and transcripts from Henry’s trials formed the basis of the script.

After being abused as a child, Henry left home and turned to a life of drugs and prostitution. While working in a brothel in Shreveport, she met the love of her life, Claude “Cowboy” Henry, a handsome boxer. With his help, she kicked her drug habit and quit working as a prostitute. Soon after they married, and just as his boxing career started to take off, he was arrested during a trip to Texas for killing a police officer years earlier and sentenced to life in prison.

In desperate need of money for her husband’s appeal, Henry and an accomplice, Finnon “Arkie” Burks, conceived an ill-fated plan to rob a bank. Needing a car, they abducted, shot and killed J.P. Calloway, who had picked them up hitchhiking, on Valentine’s Day 1940. Who actually fired the shot remains a mystery.

Against the backdrop of this action at the start of the film, the real drama begins to unfold during Henry’s trial as she is transformed from a hardened criminal into a woman who accepts God’s love and forgiveness.

“‘The Pardon’ is a story about love and forgiveness and compassion … about a woman who has never loved or been loved.  When she is loved, it changes her life,” said Jaime King (“Pearl Harbor” and “Hart of Dixie”), who plays Henry. “This woman’s life actually became better after she was put in jail where she was finally surrounded by people who cared for her and truly loved her. God works in strange ways.”

Featuring a dynamic performance from King, “The Pardon” also includes Academy Award nominee John Hawkes (“Winter’s Bone” and “The Sessions”) as Henry’s murder accomplice, Jason Lewis (“Sex and the City” and “Mr. Brooks”) as her husband, M.C. Gainey (“Lost,” “Wild Hogs,” “Sideways” and “Con Air”) as the jailer and T. J. Thyne (“Bones”) as the priest.

“I hope that audiences will see this movie and have compassion for those less fortunate in their upbringing — be not so quick to judge what they don’t understand,” Anton said. Russell added, “My dream for this movie is that the audience will leave a little more forgiving and grateful for a forgiving God.”

For more information, please visit http://www.thepardonmovie.com/